Constable who tried to run over man still absconding
A Mumbai police constable, who was booked for trying to run over a man in Thane, is still absconding.
On Monday, the constable was sent a notice, summoning him to the police station.
If he does not show up in seven days, an arrest warrant will be issued against him, said the police.
CCTV footage shows Ramesh Awate, 42, driving a car at speed while dragging a man along.
The incident took place at Panchpakadi in Thane near complainant Atul Pethe’s icecream shop.
“The two have had a financial dispute for some time. On April 21, Awate started taking photos of Atul Pethe, which led to an altercation. Pethe stood in front of Awate’s car, demanding that he delete the photos. But Awate drove off, dragging Pethe,” said D Swamy, deputy commissioner of police, zone 1, Thane police.
In the video, Pethe is seen pleading as Awate accelerates.
“An FIR was filed the next day,” said Swamy.
Pethe, a businessman, said he and Awate have known each other for a few years and that he had been asking Awate to pay back money he had borrowed.
“He was a family friend and my mother did not hesitate to lend him Rs3 lakh a couple of months ago. Now, he refuses to return the money. On April 21, he had been following me since morning and came near my shop in the evening and abused me,” said Pethe.
He added that the constable threatened him and started taking pictures of his ice-cream stall.
“When I too started taking his photo, he started his car and drove towards me. I caught hold of the bonnet and was dragged for a few metres. When passers-by stopped him and asked him to come out, Aware said that he was parking his car but sped away,” said Pethe, adding that he had earlier lodged a noncognisable report against Awate.
“He had been warned but he kept coming near my stall and threatening me,” said Pethe.
Awate has been booked under rash driving and criminal intimidation under the Indian Penal Code.